By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: In wake of protest call given by Maulana Kalbe Jawwad against Congress party, the Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh rushed to meet the eminent Shia cleric in Lucknow on Wednesday.
Maulana Jawwad had given a call for demonstration outside Congress party offices from Friday to protest against police action on devotees at Shah-e-Mardan Karabala in BK Dutt Colony, Jor Bagh at New Delhi on January 15, 2012. Police had lodged an FIR against the clerics and used tear gas shells to control the surging mob of devotees in Jor Bagh on that day.
Realising that the protest call by Jawwad will alienate the Congress from Muslims, Singh rushed in a damage control exercise and pacified the cleric on Wednesday. Digvijay arrived nearly half an hour before his scheduled time to meet Jawwad who was not present in the house however he patiently waited for the cleric.
During the interaction Jawwad handed him over the papers and other related documents of the shrine Shah-e-Mardan at New Delhi. Jawwad placed demands for construction of a boundary wall, expunging the FIR lodged by police which has named several clerics for instigating violence, removing the nursery set up in a portion of the shrine and compliance of the High Court’s directives for complete possession of the shrine. Muslims already have the possession of the shrine and the controversial closure of western gate has also been resolved with Delhi government handing over its keys to the clerics.
Digvijay assured that the demands will be considered sympathetically. “Congress is concerned about the issues related to minorities. All efforts will be done to settle the issues raised during the discussion,” said Digvijay. He also urged the cleric to take back the protest call against Congress as his demands are already under consideration and will be fulfilled. “We need to take confidence building measures so that the Muslims feel empowered and are in the mainstream of the country. No action should be taken which has adverse impact on their esteem,” said Digvijay.
Talking to newsmen after the interaction, Maulana Jawwad stated that he has handed over the papers and other related documents to Digvijay Singh and it is up to him to take action for resolving the issue. Over the possibility of supporting Congress, Jawwad stated that he is nonpolitical person and as such is not involved in issuing appeal. “If our issues are settled our community very well understands who has helped them. It is a natural phenomenon that they will then support those who had helped them,” said Jawwad. He however claimed that the protest call from Friday against Congress was still valid and they are awaiting reply from the Delhi government.